Chapter 205: The Yu Family’s Move, Miss Xiaochan?

Qingzhu Mountain, Lu Family.

“Boom!”

That day, the spiritual energy in the sky above Qingzhu Valley began to surge, slowly forming a vortex.

“Huh? What’s happening?”

“The spiritual energy is surging and forming a vortex. This is… someone attempting Foundation Establishment!”

“Foundation Establishment? How could someone in our family be attempting that?”

“It must be because our patriarch earned merits for the Azure Cloud Sect earlier and exchanged them for a Foundation Establishment Pill or some spiritual item, allowing someone in the family to attempt Foundation Establishment!”

“I wonder if it’s Uncle Miaofeng or Aunt Miaoge attempting Foundation Establishment.”

“I read in a book that when the spiritual energy vortex forms, it means they’ve passed the three stages of Foundation Establishment and reached the most crucial phase!”

“At this final stage… I hope they can succeed!”

“They must succeed! Then our Lu Family will have two Foundation Establishment cultivators!”

Seeing this spiritual energy vortex, many Lu Family members spoke up, discussing excitedly.

Although news about Lu Yuanzhong’s severe injury hadn’t spread within the family,

quite a few people had heard related rumors and whispers.

They knew their patriarch had been severely injured in the campaign against the Xiahou clan, with little life left.

Now, seeing someone in the family attempting Foundation Establishment, they were naturally overjoyed and excited.

After all, for the Lu Family, regardless of whether Lu Yuanzhong was severely injured or not, having one more Foundation Establishment patriarch was a tremendous blessing.

Each additional Foundation Establishment cultivator meant the Lu Family’s strength and foundation would rise to a new level.

“Yuanding, Miaoge, guard the family well.”

Deep in Qingzhu Valley, Lu Yuanzhong was protecting Lu Miaofeng.

Seeing that Lu Miaofeng had now reached the final step, about to condense his spiritual power into liquid and raise the Dao platform, Lu Yuanzhong sent a mental message to Lu Yuanshan Ding and Lu Miaoge..

When a Qi Refining cultivator attempts Foundation Establishment, the gathering of spiritual energy inevitably causes some disturbance.

Especially at the final crucial moment.

Although this disturbance wasn’t too significant,

it could be clearly sensed within Qingzhu Mountain.

But there was no guarantee it wouldn’t attract danger or trouble.

Not to mention, these surrounding cultivator families all had spies and moles planted to understand and grasp the situation and information of other families.

No one wanted to see a new Foundation Establishment cultivator born in a neighboring family.

So usually, Foundation Establishment attempts were kept secret.

Just like when the previous generation Lu Family patriarch secretly took him away from Qingzhu Mountain to attempt Foundation Establishment elsewhere.

Only after successfully establishing his foundation did he return to the family.

“Yes, Patriarch.”

Lu Yuanshan Ding and Lu Miaoge nodded in response..

Due to the previous war against the Xiahou clan, the Lu Family had suffered greatly.

So this time, to ensure Lu Miaofeng’s Foundation Establishment and prevent any accidents, Lu Miaoge had been stationed t Qingzhu Mountain.

…

Bihu Mountain, Yu Family.

“Patriarch, our informants have sent news that someone in the Lu Family is currently attempting Foundation Establishment. They’ve passed the three stages and reached the crucial moment.”

“As for who’s attempting Foundation Establishment, it’s not confirmed yet, but it’s either Lu Miaoge or Lu Miaofeng.””

The Yu Family head came to the back mountain of their territory to report this information to their patriarch.

“Hmph, when Lu Yuanzhong was poisoned at Blackwater Pool that day, I guessed his life was short and he’d be preparing for succession, letting the Lu Family produce a new Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

“Previously, that Bai family brat exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill at the Azure Cloud Sect, then relied on some old favors and spent all their family savings to attempt Foundation Establishment directly within the Azure Cloud Sect, succeeding.”

“If we let the Lu Family produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator, won’t all our Yu Family’s schemes be in vain!?”

Yu Jinyang, wearing a wide blue brocade robe, with white hair but a youthful face and eyes like lightning, coldly snorted.

“Patriarch, do you mean to directly attack Qingzhu Mountain?”

The Yu Family head cautiously inquired.

“During this period, the Azure Cloud Sect has forbidden conflicts between the major family forces. If we launch a full-scale attack on Qingzhu Mountain, we might provoke the Azure Cloud Sect to intervene.”

“Moreover, the Lu Family must be on high alert now, with their family formation operating at full power. Attacking Qingzhu Mountain won’t be easy.”

“Besides, we still have a cooperative relationship with the Lu Family on the surface. Such an action would make our Yu Family appear too unscrupulous.”

Yu Jinyang spoke.

“Patriarch, are we just going to let the Lu Family attempt Foundation Establishment?”

The Yu Family head spoke, sounding somewhat unwilling.

He was well aware that his patriarch had grand ambitions, wanting to swallow up several surrounding families.

Now, the Zheng Family of Centipede Ridge had no successor, their patriarch’s life was short, and they had already been infiltrated by the Yu Family.

It could be said that as soon as the Zheng Family Patriarch dies, the Centipede Ridge Zheng Family would become a complete vassal of their Yu Family, a possession in their pocket.

The Bai family of Hundred Bird Lake and the Lu Family of Qingzhu Mountain were also in their Yu Family’s plans.

Originally, with the Bai Family Ancestor’s life running short, they just needed to outlast him, and Hundred Bird Lake would struggle to escape their Yu Family’s grasp.

By then, with only the Qingzhu Mountain Lu Family left, they naturally wouldn’t be able to face their Yu Family.

However, the Bai Family Ancestor also realized this point.

Knowing his life was short and there were no High-Tier Spirit Root cultivators in the family who could easily attempt Foundation Establishment, they absolutely needed a Foundation Establishment Pill!

So during the campaign against the Xiahou clan, he took the opportunity to risk his life.

He wanted to establish enough military merits before his death to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill for his family.

Although this Bai Family Ancestor died in battle, he indeed established considerable merits.

Not long ago, relying on the Bai Family Ancestor’s merits, the Bai family’s young master went to the Azure Cloud Sect to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Then, spending all the family’s savings, he sought an opportunity to attempt Foundation Establishment within the Azure Cloud Sect and succeeded.

With a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, the Yu Family naturally had to change their plans, shifting their breakthrough point to the Qingzhu Mountain Lu Family.

Their Yu Family had participated in the war against the Xiahou clan and knew that Lu Yuanzhong had suffered fundamental injuries in this battle.

So, they changed their original plan of outlasting the Bai Family Ancestor to outlasting Lu Yuanzhong.

As long as Lu Yuanzhong dies and the Lu Family fails to produce a new Foundation Establishment cultivator in time, their Yu Family could seize the opportunity to divide Qingzhu Mountain and take the Hongye Valley Marketplace.

By then, facing their Yu Family, the Bai family would stand alone and could only choose to submit.

If this time the Lu Family produces a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, and the Lu and Bai families continue to unite, it would be much more difficult and troublesome for their Yu Family to annex the Hongye Valley Marketplace and the two family forces.

“Doing nothing and letting the Lu Family attempt Foundation Establishment isn’t this old patriarch’s style.”

“Go notify Ning Jun to accompany me to Qingzhu Mountain this time.”

“Now that the Lu Family is at a crucial moment of Foundation Establishment, they naturally won’t dare to meet enemies in battle when faced with attackers.”

“We only need to conceal our identities and harass Qingzhu Mountain, causing the spiritual energy there to become chaotic.”

“And the person attempting Foundation Establishment in Qingzhu Mountain, hearing this disturbance, will surely be distracted, their state of mind affected, and perhaps fail in their Foundation Establishment attempt as a result.”

Yu Jinyang spoke, hands clasped behind his back.

“Patriarch, you’re brilliant!”

Hearing these words, the Yu Family head immediately understood his patriarch’s intention.

When a cultivator attempts Foundation Establishment, they not only need abundant spiritual energy but also a quiet environment.

Because condensing spiritual power into liquid, transforming it into Spiritual Energy, and raising the Dao platform require undivided attention.

One careless moment could lead to failure in Foundation Establishment.

If there’s disturbance during the process or external situations arise, their mentality and state of mind will inevitably be affected, thus influencing the Foundation Establishment.

Especially when attempting Foundation Establishment and hearing disturbances that their family is under attack, probably any family cultivator’s state of mind would be affected.

“Patriarch, if we do this, what if the Lu Family goes to the Azure Cloud Sect to complain afterwards?”

The Yu Family head continued to inquire.

The Azure Cloud Sect had regulations.

During the recruitment period, regardless of any contradictions or conflicts between the major family forces, they must cease.

Moreover, for three years, they should develop steadily and not erupt into conflicts or wars.

Now, it had only been just over half a year since the campaign against the Xiahou clan.

If the Yu Family does such a thing, and the Lu Family goes to complain to the Azure Cloud Sect afterwards, it might bring trouble to their Yu Family.

“Hehe, the Azure Cloud Sect won’t bother with such trivial matters.”

“Unless we launch a full-scale attack on the Lu Family and destroy Qingzhu Mountain, the Azure Cloud Sect might send someone to question us.”

“Just harassing and affecting Qingzhu Mountain, how could the Azure Cloud Sect have the leisure to manage such things? Even if they send someone, it would just be a warning and some punishment.”

Hearing this, Yu Jinyang sneered and spoke directly.

Then, looking at the Yu Family head, he said: “Ning Yuan, the Azure Cloud Sect stands high above. Their actions have always been about maintaining their prestige, not upholding justice and righteousness.”

“In the eyes of the Azure Cloud Sect, we family forces are nothing more than dogs. They don’t care about our minor squabbles.”

“So, we should respect the Azure Cloud Sect, but not fear them excessively!”

Yu Jinyang spoke in a deep voice.

“Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor!”

The Yu Family head bowed and responded.

Then, Yu Jinyang left Yu Ninghu to guard Bihu Mountain and took Yu Ningjun, the newly established Foundation, to Qingzhu Mountain.

He also sent a message to Yu Yuanshan, who was stationed at the Hongye Valley Marketplace.

The three of them headed to Qingzhu Mountain, intending to influence and interfere with the Foundation Establishment there.

At a Spirit Pond on a mountaintop.

Lu Changsheng and Ling Zixiao were ‘bathing’ in the Spirit Pond, cultivating yang energy and exchanging intimate words.

Suddenly, there was a ripple in the void.

Two figures appeared and fell into the pond with a splash.

One of them, pale and bloodless, sank immediately after hitting the water.

The other figure managed to stabilize herself as she fell, but froze upon seeing Lu Changsheng.

Her beautiful eyes revealed a mix of joy, surprise, shock, and tenderness, leaving her mind in chaos.

However, Lu Changsheng didn’t notice all this.

When he and Ling Zixiao saw people appear, they quickly summoned their spiritual power, their bodies glowing, and moved to the shore, hastily draping their robes over themselves.

Ling Zixiao, her cheeks flushed, clung to Lu Changsheng.

She never imagined that after finally gathering the courage to agree to Lu Changsheng’s unreasonable request to cultivate yang energy in this mountaintop Spirit Pond, they’d encounter such a situation.

Her mind went blank, like mush, feeling utterly embarrassed.

Lu Changsheng looked at the two who had fallen into the Spirit Pond with surprise.

He didn’t know how they had appeared.

Although he was fully focused on helping Ling Zixiao cultivate yang energy, his spiritual sense had been monitoring the surroundings.

He hadn’t sensed how the two had approached.

Moreover, Ling Zixiao had set up a ‘Five Elements Reversal Formation’ around the Spirit Pond.

Most Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t easily break through it.

Let alone enter the formation silently and unnoticed.

“Lu Lang!”

Just then, Meng Xiaochan, wearing a purple dress, surfaced and called out to Lu Changsheng, her face pale.

Her voice carried a mix of joy, surprise, longing, tenderness, and resentment.

Earlier, when she and her master Nangong Mili faced danger in a cave, they had to use a Third-Tier teleportation talisman to escape.

For her, activating a talisman of this level was not only extremely draining and difficult but also uncontrollable. She had to rely on her master Nangong Mili’s help to activate it.

As they used the talisman, a sword energy attack came at them.

Though they escaped through teleportation, both she and Nangong Mili were injured.

But she never expected that this teleportation talisman would bring her to Lu Changsheng.

On this trip to the Jiang Kingdom, she had been conflicted, wondering if she would meet Lu Changsheng.

After all, she missed Lu Changsheng terribly, thinking of him day and night, her soul tied to his.

But a part of her, still rational, feared meeting Lu Changsheng.

She was afraid of losing herself upon seeing him.

“Lu Lang?”

Ling Zixiao quickly came to her senses, looking at the two in the Spirit Pond, ready to use the formation to subdue them.

But hearing Meng Xiaochan suddenly call out “Lu Lang”, she froze, bewildered.

What’s going on? This girl knows Lu Changsheng?

Moreover, the way she said “Lu Lang” sounded like a reunion, full of tender affection.

She immediately realized their relationship was unusual, very close.

“Could it be that Lu Changsheng called them here, wanting to…”

For a moment, a thought flashed through Ling Zixiao’s mind.

But the next moment, she dismissed the idea.

It wasn’t because she trusted Lu Changsheng’s character.

When it came to matters between men and women, she had no trust in Lu Changsheng at all.

She had long since decided that Lu Changsheng wasn’t a proper cultivator.

While such a thing seemed outrageous, it wasn’t entirely implausible.

The reason she dismissed the thought was that she could clearly sense that their appearance hadn’t triggered her formation.

It seemed more like they had arrived through some kind of spatial travel technique or teleportation array.

But spatial travel techniques were extremely advanced.

Apart from the rare ‘Void Spirit Root’, only Nascent Soul realm True Lords could master such Divine Abilities.

As for teleportation arrays, that was even less likely.

At least a Top-Tier Third-Tier formation master would be needed to set one up.

Moreover, the setup process was very complicated. It was impossible to teleport without prior arrangements.

“Miss Xiaochan?”

Lu Changsheng, hearing Meng Xiaochan’s voice, looked at the girl before him in surprise.

He hadn’t expected the suddenly appearing girl to be Meng Xiaochan.

Based on the information he had bought in Nine Heavens Immortal City, he knew Meng Xiaochan was from the Five Poison Sect, a demonic cult in the Jin Kingdom.

She should have been pursued by the Heavenly Sword Sect along with the Spider Emissary Nangong Mili from the Five Poison Sect. How did she suddenly appear here?

“They really do know each other.”

Hearing Lu Changsheng address Meng Xiaochan, Ling Zixiao thought to herself that they indeed knew each other and had an unusual relationship.

“Hmm?”

The next moment, when she saw Meng Xiaochan’s face, her eyes showed surprise and doubt.

She had seen the information about the demonic cult incident that Lu Changsheng had bought in Nine Heavens Immortal City.

The Jade Slip contained information about Meng Xiaochan, including her background.

Now, seeing Meng Xiaochan’s appearance, she immediately recognized her as one of the demonic cultivators pursued by the Heavenly Sword Sect in the Nine Heavens Immortal City incident.

This made her wonder in surprise how Lu Changsheng was associated with demonic cultivators.

Could he really be some kind of evil cultivator or demonic practitioner?

Recently, I’ve been attending training, only able to guarantee a minimum of 4,000 words daily. After mid-month when the training ends, I’ll make up for the missed extra chapters.